Effects of Conversion From Sagebrush to Non-Native Grasslands on Sagebrush-Associated Species

Abstract

On the Ground
• There are as many as 170 vertebrate wildlife species
throughout the western United States and Canada
that are associated with and sometimes dependent
on sagebrush habitats and can be negatively affected
by conversion of sagebrush ecosystems to non-native
perennial or annual grassland.
• We briefly summarize the mechanisms responsible
for this conversion and synthesize its effects on
wildlife species that are not often in the spotlight, as
well as potential effects on management efforts.
• Conversion to non-native annual grasslands is especially
difficult for sagebrush obligates because annual
grass dominance of former sagebrush sites increases
fire frequency, effectively eliminating the ability of
functioning sagebrush communities to re-establish
following burning.
• Conversion to non-native perennial grasslands also
negatively affects sagebrush obligates, because nonnative
perennial grasses are able to grow in
monocultures that compete with native plants and
prevent their re-establishment in areas that are
dominated by non-native perennials.

Keywords: ecosystem conversion, exotic grasses, fire
effects, sagebrush obligate, wildlife habitat.